Australian SME Business News and Accounting Articles

Good news for those wanting to start a career in accounting companies. It has been found out that about a third of Australia’s accounting and finance firms are contemplating on hiring new staff.

Robert Half, an accounting recruitment firm, conducted a study that revealed that out of the 300 chief financial officers and finance directors surveyed, 82 percent believe and are confident that their businesses will be better this year. To add to this, more than 75 percent are expecting a better Australian economy. In fact, new staff is looking to be hired in the early part of 2012 by about a third of the companies.

"Profitability deteriorated in the month, while employment and trading conditions were unchanged. Labor market conditions remain soft and the overall outlook for near-term activity remains moderate," said the NAB.

Though there had been a deteriorating performance in the wholesale, transport and utilities, and construction sectors, mining, recreation, manufacturing, and personal services performed well.

Excessive red tape from the state government, councils and WorkCover are causing damage to small businesses in Australia.

According to Yasmin King, New South Wales' first small business commissioner, small business operators in the state are struggling to have their voices heard and are suffering under excessive regulation.

After six months into the job, Commissioner King was saying that her job is to ensure that small businesses are thriving rather than just surviving as she observed that small businesses in her state are struggling to compete with big players because it is being forced to pay excessive wages.

Setting up a business in this time of economic uncertainties can really be difficult. If any business does not sell or prosper, the investment would be wasted along with the time and efforts invested into it. But these things can be avoided if we try to look into what is probably going to sell in the next few days and months.

Investors remain cautious prior to US’ release of its employment data resulting to Australian shares finishing weaker today.

Australia’s benchmark S&P/ASX200/ index went down by 16.6 points, or 39 percent, that is equal to 4,521.2. On the other hand, the All Ordinaries Index also went down by 13.1 points, or 0.3 percent, that is equal to 4.320.1 at the close.

With 19,799 contracts traded, the March share price index future contracts also went down by 22 points. Generally, there have been 1.89 billion shares that were traded for $4.22 billion.

Small businesses have done well over the Christmas period. The sales that they made over the said period had exceeded what was initially expected. However, the general figures of the calendar 2011 did not prove impressive despite the subdued conditions of the market.

Compared to the same month last year, the sales trends of small businesses show that in December 2011, there was an increase of about 3.3 percent according to ANZ Banking Group’s monthly Small Business Sales Trends. The report added that the growth had been continuous for eight months due to good performances in the mining states, and non-retail and service sectors.

Social media has grown tremendously popular over the decade. Its reach is enormous that almost every single man of the world’s population has an account on Facebook, Twitter, Flicker, and MySpace. And why not?

The advantages of having such accounts cannot be underestimated. People are able to reach old friends from several years back and friends who are at the other end of the globe. Individuals are able to connect with families and relatives that they have not even met. People, in fact, use the social media to start up their small online business. And with this last statement, why not business owners acknowledge the fact that the social media can also be used for their transactions?